Weekly Round-Up: 17 – 23 April 2017

Why can’t the Easter school holiday be a week longer?

Seriously. We need at least that long to remind our bodies of the macronutrients that exist outside of hot cross buns, and that the food pyramid is more diverse than white, dark, and milk chocolate. Not to say we don’t enjoy living off all of the bunny-shaped chocolates on offer, but we need much more time to recover from that sort of sweet-induced food coma.

Luckily, we’ve got just the solution for those who have yet to brave a diet of greens and are still partial to lounging in a makeshift nest of Cadbury Creme Eggs: a steady stream of videos from your favourite creators. They’re the cream of the crop.

…and crops are vegetables, right? So this is essentially getting you back on track. Consider yourselves welcome.

Babysitters (feat. Louise Pentland) | Jack and Dean

Imitations and pub shenanigans and cute babies, oh my! Jack Howard and Dean Dobbs deliver on all of those and more with a peek at an episode from the first season of Jack and Dean of All Trades.

This is one of our favorite JADOAT episodes to date, hands down. Not only is it filled with quick-witted writing held to the calibre of every Jack and Dean sketch, but we also catch a glimpse of the narrative tension playing out throughout the series (if we could have an entire video in which Jack and Dean imitated each other that would be lovely, thanks very much). Plus, we get a little guest spot from the effervescent Louise Pentland, who gives us her Cool Mum™ advice on dealing with children. Seems legit, if you ask us.

couldn’t care more: a poem | Savannah Brown

You know those videos you watch while nodding along in aggressive agreement? Gracing our laptop screens with another host of beautiful words this week is one of our favourites, Savannah Brown, with a video that will have you doing just that.

Savannah’s newest poem is an anthem for those who feel they tread too loudly or love too strongly. In a society that deems apathy the epitome of all that is cool, being the one vibrant person in a sea of grey can seem an impossible task. Just one look in the comments section will tell you that you’re not alone; commenters are sounding off on just how hard-hitting Savannah’s words are.

couldn’t care more reminds us that being “cool” means you care, that baring your passion makes you strong. If anyone needs us, we’ll be fist-pumping and watching this on repeat.

1 YEAR ON T: FTM TRANSGENDER | TheRealAlexBertie

Get ready for some some serious feels, because Alex Bertie’s video this week is one you don’t want to miss — just make sure you have some tissues at hand.

Alex’s videos for the past year have been nothing short of inspirational. His transition has been a physical and mental one that we’ve been privileged to share in, and this video shows how far Alex has come over his year on testosterone – and has us a bit teary-eyed. The best part is that trans people of all ages, in every stage of their own transitions, have Alex to look up to. We here at TenEighty can’t imagine a better role model.

Sellouts | Boyinaband

Change is always a tricky subject to navigate. However, from social norms to technology to YouTube itself (video responses, anyone?), it’s easy to see just how integral change is to our lives. So why are we still struggling with the idea, especially when it comes to music?

This week, Dave Brown examines change through this very lens, taking on the infamous “sellout” label, and trying to figure out exactly what people mean when they hurl it as an insult. If a band changes the style of music they do because they want to, then are they not simply being true to themselves? Besides, change can bring good! (All evidence of that fact lies within any picture of our respective fringes circa five years ago. Those changes were certainly for the better, trust us.)

Caught Up (Official Video) | Sarah Close

Would it be a Weekly Round-Up without a new song to help you hang in there until next Monday? We’re closing out this week’s list with a bangin’ tune by the queen of long-take music videos herself, Sarah Close.

Caught Up is the second track from Sarah’s new EP to land a music video, and for good reason: the lyrics are tight, the melody catchy, and the rhythm will grab you and push you onto your feet. With the number of impromptu dance sessions that this song has incited at our office, we can attest to all of the above. We’re endlessly applauding Sarah’s vocals and, now, her life choices: after all, who in their right mind doesn’t prefer Coco Pops to Shredded Wheat?!

We’re so glad to see Sarah’s original songs getting the admiration they deserve!

Looking to dive into an analysis of the nature of collaborations on YouTube? Look no further than Jake Aspey, whose lengthy discussion on the subject with Libby Tidley is sure to make you reassess your view of the platform’s social structure from a creator’s standpoint.

The lovely Lex Croucher has written up her feelings on a rather, err, unfortunate situation and turned them into a catchy melody. The content, we hear you ask? We feel it can only be appreciated through a good listen. Lex, you can serenade our reproductive organs anytime.